Greek police, protesters clash ahead of austerity bill vote

Protesters try to escape tear gas during clashes in Athens, on Sunday, May 8, 2016. Protesters in Greece have hurled firebombs and other projectiles at police in front of parliament before a controversial vote on an austerity bill. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) (The Associated Press)

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A petrol bomb explodes in front of policemen during clashes in Athens, on Sunday, May 8, 2016. Protesters in Greece have hurled firebombs and other projectiles at police in front of parliament before a controversial vote on an austerity bill. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) (The Associated Press)

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A petrol bomb explodes in front of policemen during clashes in Athens, on Sunday, May 8, 2016. Protesters in Greece have hurled firebombs and other projectiles at police in front of parliament before a controversial vote on an austerity bill. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) (The Associated Press)

ATHENS, Greece – Protesters in Greece have hurled firebombs and other projectiles at police in front of parliament before a controversial vote on an austerity bill.

Police responded with bursts of tear gas to repel a small group of anarchists, some of whom started running up the steps in front of parliament before throwing the Molotov cocktails. The anarchists were mixed among a group of several thousand peaceful demonstrators holding banners in Syntagma Square.

Lawmakers will vote on a bill later Sunday that is set to dramatically increase social security and pension contributions as part of requirements the country must meet under its third international bailout. Greek workers say the increases will decimate their incomes, and have staged a series of strikes.